US6778222B2 - Data broadcast apparatus for controlling presentation timing of additional data with high precision - Google Patents

Abstract

A data broadcast apparatus repeatedly broadcasts broadcast data to a reception apparatus which stores the broadcast data into a memory and reproduces the broadcast data stored in the memory, according to a carousel method. An acquiring unit acquires a plurality of sets of broadcast data which each have a specified reproduction start time. A generating unit generates carousel data including the plurality of sets of broadcast data. A carousel data broadcasting unit repeatedly broadcasts the carousel data according to the carousel method, beginning at the earliest reproduction start time of the plurality of sets of broadcast data. An instruction broadcasting unit broadcasts, for each set of broadcast data, an instruction that indicates to the reception apparatus to start reproducing the set of broadcast data at a reproduction start time specified for the set of broadcast data.

Description

This application is based on an application No. 2000-097302 filed in Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a data broadcast apparatus that multiplexes additional data with data of a TV program and broadcast them so that the additional data is presented to a viewer with the TV program. The invention in particular relates to techniques of controlling presentation timing for additional data.

2. Related Art

In recent digital broadcasting, additional data such as character information is multiplexed with program data such as video and audio and broadcasted.

In general, the same or renewed additional data is repeatedly multiplexed with program data and broadcasted, with a cycle of about 5 to 10 seconds.

A data broadcast apparatus that performs such digital broadcasting is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent application No. H10-313449.

The most common method used for periodic broadcast of additional data is the Data Carousel (hereafter simply called “carousel method”) specified by the internationally standardized DSM-CC (Digital Storage Media—Command and Control) (described in detail in Information Technology—Generic Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio: DSM-CC—ISO/IEC 13818-6). Broadcast of additional data according to the carousel method has been adopted for BS digital broadcasting service and the like in Japan (described in detail in the ARIB STD-B24 specification “Data Broadcast Coding and Transmission in Digital Broadcasting”).

With this method of repeatedly transmitting additional data, a reception apparatus can receive only necessary additional data and reproduce it, with it being possible to utilize enormous amounts of information without a large-capacity memory.

To renew additional data broadcasted using the carousel method, a method called carousel updating is employed. Carousel updating is a technique in which a broadcast apparatus estimates a time period required to receive the next additional data, and switches the broadcasting from the present additional data to the next additional data the estimated time period before a reception apparatus switches the presentation from the present additional data to the next additional data. This is described in detail in Japanese Laid-Open patent application No. H10-313449.

However, since there are variations in the time period required to receive additional data, the above technique has a problem that there is a large timing error for changing from the present additional data to the next additional data in the reception apparatus.

This timing error depends on the cycle in which additional data is repeatedly transmitted. For instance, when the cycle is 8 seconds, the time period taken to receive the additional data is about 8 seconds at the maximum but within 1 second at the minimum. In this case, there is a timing error of 7 seconds or more. With such a low degree of precision, the above technique is not applicable when presenting additional data of a commercial program with a short broadcast time period of about 15-30 seconds, though it is still applicable when presenting additional data of a main program with a long broadcast time period of 30 minutes or more.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a data broadcast apparatus, method, and program that can control the timing of changing additional data presented to a viewer with greater precision.

The above object can be fulfilled by a data broadcast apparatus for repeatedly broadcasting broadcast data using a carousel method, to a reception apparatus which stores the broadcast data into a memory and reproduces the broadcast data stored in the memory, including: an acquiring unit for acquiring a plurality of sets of broadcast data for each of which a reproduction start time is specified; a generating unit for generating carousel data including the plurality of sets of broadcast data acquired by the acquiring unit; a carousel data broadcasting unit for repeatedly broadcasting the carousel data using the carousel method, beginning at an earliest reproduction start time out of a plurality of reproduction start times of the plurality of sets of broadcast data; and an instruction broadcasting unit for broadcasting, for each set of broadcast data, a reproduction instruction which indicates to the reception apparatus to start reproduction of the set of broadcast data at a reproduction start time specified for the set of broadcast data.

With this construction, broadcast data to be reproduced earlier and broadcast data to be reproduced later in the reception apparatus are repeatedly broadcasted together, and an instruction which indicates to start the reproduction of the latter broadcast data at a reproduction start time specified for the latter broadcast data is broadcasted.

Since the reception apparatus can store the latter broadcast data in a memory beforehand and reproduce it at the reproduction start time, there is almost no delay in reproduction caused by the time taken to receive the latter broadcast data. Thus, the broadcast apparatus can control the timing of changing broadcast data presented to a viewer, with greater precision.

Also, it becomes unnecessary to frequently change the contents of carousel data broadcasted, with it being possible to lighten the burden on the broadcast apparatus.

Here, the instruction broadcasting unit may further broadcast a storage instruction which indicates to the reception apparatus to store the set of broadcast data into the memory before the reproduction start time.

With this construction, an instruction which indicates to store the latter broadcast data into the memory before the reproduction start time is broadcasted.

Accordingly, the reception apparatus can store necessary broadcast data only when required, with it being possible to economize memory usage in the reception apparatus.

Here, the instruction broadcasting unit may further broadcast a deletion instruction which indicates to the reception apparatus that the set of broadcast data can be deleted from the memory after the reproduction ends.

With this construction, an instruction which indicates that the latter broadcast data can be deleted from the memory after the reproduction ends is broadcasted.

Accordingly, the reception apparatus can delete from the memory broadcast data which becomes unnecessary, with it being possible to economize memory usage in the reception apparatus.

Here, the instruction broadcasting unit may broadcast the reproduction instruction as an event message or a module which has a particular identifier.

With this construction, the instruction to start the reproduction of the latter broadcast data is broadcasted as an event message or a module having a particular identifier.

This makes it possible to implement the invention with conventional reception apparatuses.

The above object can also be fulfilled by a data broadcast apparatus for (a) continuously broadcasting program data during a broadcast time slot to a reception apparatus, and (b) repeatedly broadcasting additional data associated with the program data during the broadcast time slot using a carousel method, to the reception apparatus which stores the additional data into a memory and reproduces the additional data stored in the memory, including: an acquiring unit for acquiring a plurality of sets of program data for each of which a broadcast time slot is specified, and a plurality of sets of additional data which are respectively associated with the plurality of sets of program data; a generating unit for generating carousel data including the plurality of sets of additional data acquired by the acquiring unit; a data broadcasting unit for (a) continuously broadcasting, during a broadcast time slot of each set of program data, the set of program data, and (b) repeatedly broadcasting the carousel data using the carousel method, beginning at the start of an earliest broadcast time slot of a plurality of broadcast time slots of the plurality of sets of program data; and an instruction broadcasting unit for broadcasting, for each set of additional data, a reproduction instruction which indicates to the reception apparatus to start reproduction of the set of additional data at the start of a broadcast time slot specified for a set of program data associated with the set of additional data.

With this construction, additional data to be reproduced earlier and additional data to be reproduced later in the reception apparatus are repeatedly broadcasted together, and an instruction which indicates to start the reproduction of the latter additional data at the start of a broadcast time slot specified for program data associated with the latter additional data is broadcasted.

Since the reception apparatus can store the latter additional data in a memory beforehand and reproduce it at the start of the broadcast time slot, there is almost no delay in reproduction caused by the time taken to receive the latter additional data. Thus, the broadcast apparatus can control the timing of changing additional data presented to a viewer, with greater precision.

Here, the instruction broadcasting unit may further broadcast a storage instruction which indicates to the reception apparatus to store the set of additional data into the memory before the start of the broadcast time slot.

With this construction, an instruction which indicates to store the latter additional data into the memory before the start of the broadcast time slot is broadcasted.

Accordingly, the reception apparatus can store necessary additional data only when required, with it being possible to economize memory usage in the reception apparatus.

Here, the instruction broadcasting unit may further broadcast a deletion instruction which indicates to the reception apparatus that the set of additional data can be deleted from the memory after the reproduction ends.

With this construction, an instruction which indicates that the latter additional data can be deleted from the memory after the reproduction ends is broadcasted.

Accordingly, the reception apparatus can delete from the memory additional data which becomes unnecessary, with it being possible to economize memory usage in the reception apparatus.

Here, the instruction broadcasting unit may broadcast the reproduction instruction as an event message or a module which has a particular identifier.

With this construction, the instruction to start the reproduction of the latter additional data is broadcasted as an event message or a module having a particular identifier.

This makes it possible to implement the invention with conventional reception apparatuses.

The above object can also be fulfilled by a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for use with a computer, for repeatedly broadcasting broadcast data using a carousel method to a reception apparatus which stores the broadcast data into a memory and reproduces the broadcast data stored in the memory, the computer program including: an acquiring step for acquiring a plurality of sets of broadcast data for each of which a reproduction start time is specified; a generating step for generating carousel data including the plurality of sets of broadcast data acquired in the acquiring step; a carousel data broadcasting step for repeatedly broadcasting the carousel data using the carousel method, beginning at an earliest reproduction start time out of a plurality of reproduction start times of the plurality of sets of broadcast data; and an instruction broadcasting step for broadcasting, for each set of broadcast data, a reproduction instruction which indicates to the reception apparatus to start reproduction of the set of broadcast data at a reproduction start time specified for the set of broadcast data.

The above object can also be fulfilled by a data broadcast method for repeatedly broadcasting broadcast data using a carousel method to a reception apparatus which stores the broadcast data into a memory and reproduces the broadcast data stored in the memory, the data broadcast method including: an acquiring step for acquiring a plurality of sets of broadcast data for each of which a reproduction start time is specified; a generating step for generating carousel data including the plurality of sets of broadcast data acquired in the acquiring step; a carousel data broadcasting step for repeatedly broadcasting the carousel data using the carousel method, beginning at an earliest reproduction start time out of a plurality of reproduction start times of the plurality of sets of broadcast data; and an instruction broadcasting step for broadcasting, for each set of broadcast data, a reproduction instruction which indicates to the reception apparatus to start reproduction of the set of broadcast data at a reproduction start time specified for the set of broadcast data.

With these constructions, broadcast data to be reproduced earlier and broadcast data to be reproduced later in the reception apparatus are repeatedly broadcasted together, and an instruction which indicates to start the reproduction of the latter broadcast data at a reproduction start time specified for the latter broadcast data is broadcasted.

Since the reception apparatus can store the latter broadcast data in a memory beforehand and reproduce it at the reproduction start time, there is almost no delay in reproduction caused by the time taken to receive the latter broadcast data. Thus, the broadcast apparatus can control the timing of changing broadcast data presented to a viewer, with greater precision. The above object can also be fulfilled by a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for use with a computer, for repeatedly broadcasting broadcast data using a carousel method to a reception apparatus which stores the broadcast data into a memory and reproduces the broadcast data stored in the memory, the computer program including: an acquiring step for acquiring a plurality of sets of program data for each of which a broadcast time slot is specified, and a plurality of sets of additional data which are respectively associated with the plurality of sets of program data; a generating step for generating carousel data including the plurality of sets of additional data acquired in the acquiring step; a data broadcasting step for (a) continuously broadcasting, during a broadcast time slot of each set of program data, the set of program data, and (b) repeatedly broadcasting the carousel data using the carousel method, beginning at the start of an earliest broadcast time slot of a plurality of broadcast time slots of the plurality of sets of program data; and an instruction broadcasting step for broadcasting, for each set of additional data, a reproduction instruction which indicates to the reception apparatus to start reproduction of the set of additional data at the start of a broadcast time slot specified for a set of program data associated with the set of additional data.

The above object can also be fulfilled by a data broadcast method for repeatedly broadcasting broadcast data using a carousel method to a reception apparatus which stores the broadcast data into a memory and reproduces the broadcast data stored in the memory, the data broadcast method including: an acquiring step for acquiring a plurality of sets of program data for each of which a broadcast time slot is specified, and a plurality of sets of additional data which are respectively associated with the plurality of sets of program data; a generating step for generating carousel data including the plurality of sets of additional data acquired in the acquiring step; a data broadcasting step for (a) continuously broadcasting, during a broadcast time slot of each set of program data, the set of program data, and (b) repeatedly broadcasting the carousel data using the carousel method, beginning at the start of an earliest broadcast time slot of a plurality of broadcast time slots of the plurality of sets of program data; and an instruction broadcasting step for broadcasting, for each set of additional data, a reproduction instruction which indicates to the reception apparatus to start reproduction of the set of additional data at the start of a broadcast time slot specified for a set of program data associated with the set of additional data.

With these constructions, additional data to be reproduced earlier and additional data to be reproduced later in the reception apparatus are repeatedly broadcasted together, and an instruction which indicates to start the reproduction of the latter additional data at the start of a broadcast time slot specified for program data associated with the latter additional data is broadcasted.

Since the reception apparatus can store the latter additional data in a memory beforehand and reproduce it at the start of the broadcast time slot, there is almost no delay in reproduction caused by the time taken to receive the latter additional data.

Thus, the broadcast apparatus can control the timing of changing additional data presented to a viewer, with greater precision.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate a specific embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of a broadcast system to which the first embodiment of the invention relates;

FIG. 2 shows an example of AV materials of a main program which are held in a program AV material holding unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an example of AV materials of CM programs which are held in a CM AV material holding unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows an example display of a data material held in a main data material holding unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5-7 each show an example display of a data material held in a CM data material holding unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 8 and 9 each show an example of organization information managed in an organization information managing unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 shows an example of carousel data generated by a carousel generating unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 shows an example of a data material—message ID correspondence table;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a transmission operation of a broadcast apparatus in the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows an example of a data stream outputted from the broadcast apparatus;

FIG. 14 shows an example of displays which are sequentially displayed on a TV when a reception apparatus receives the data stream shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a construction of a broadcast system to which the second embodiment of the invention relates;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a transmission operation of a broadcast apparatus in the second embodiment;.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a data stream outputted from the broadcast apparatus;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a construction of a broadcast system to which a modification of the invention relates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)First Embodiment

(Overview)

In the first embodiment of the present invention, a broadcast apparatus repeatedly broadcasts main program additional data which should be presented to a viewer with a main program and commercial (CM) program additional data which should be presented to the viewer with a CM program inserted in the main program, beginning at the broadcast start time of the main program. The broadcast apparatus also broadcasts an indication to switch from the main program additional data to the CM program additional data, at the broadcast start time of the CM program.

A reception apparatus receives the CM program additional data and stores it in a memory before the broadcast start time of the CM program. On receiving the indication to switch to the CM program additional data, the reception apparatus stops presenting the main program additional data and starts presenting the CM program additional data stored in the memory.

(Construction)

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a construction of a broadcast system to which the first embodiment of the invention relates.

This broadcast system is roughly made up of abroadcast apparatus100 and areception apparatus112.

The drawing also shows aTV113 for presenting programs and data to the viewer based on a data broadcast received by thereception apparatus112.

Thebroadcast apparatus100 includes a main AVmaterial holding unit101, a CM AVmaterial holding unit102, a main datamaterial holding unit103, a CM datamaterial holding unit104, an organizationinformation managing unit105, atransmission controlling unit106, anAV transmitting unit107, acarousel generating unit108, acarousel transmitting unit109, an eventmessage transmitting unit110, and amultiplexing unit111.

The main AVmaterial holding unit101, the CM AVmaterial holding unit102, the main datamaterial holding unit103, and the CM datamaterial holding unit104 can be implemented by a commercially available VCR or video server.

The main AVmaterial holding unit101 holds AV materials for a main program. An AV material referred to here is a material of program data which is made up of video, audio, and other information of a program.

FIG. 2 shows an example of main program AV materials held in the main AVmaterial holding unit101.

In the drawing, a drama Afirst material201 is an AV material used in the first part of a main program titled “drama A”, whereas a drama Asecond material202 is an AV material used in the latter part of the main program “drama A”.

The CM AVmaterial holding unit102 holds AV materials for CM programs.

FIG. 3 shows an example of CM program AV materials held in the CM AVmaterial holding unit102.

In the drawing, aCM1 material301 is an AV material of a CM program advertising a car, aCM2 material302 is an AV material of a CM program advertising a personal computer, and aCM3 material303 is an AV material of a CM program advertising a digital camera.

The main datamaterial holding unit103 holds data materials for the main program. A data material referred to here is a material of additional data which is made up of detailed information about a program.

FIG. 4 shows an example display of a data material held in the main datamaterial holding unit103.

In the drawing, adisplay region400 is used to display drama A additional data {circle around (1)}401 which is a data material of the main program “drama A”. This data material contains detailed information relating to the main program “drama A”, such aslocation information402 about the location of the drama A,story information403 about the previous story of the drama A, andcharacter information404 about the characters in the drama A. Adisplay region405 is used to display the main program “drama A”.

The CM datamaterial holding unit104 holds data materials for the CM programs.

FIGS. 5-7 each show an example display of a data material held in the CM datamaterial holding unit104.

In FIG. 5, adisplay region500 is used to display CM1additional data501 which is a data material of the CM program of the car. This data material contains detailed information relating to the car being advertised, such astrade name information502 about the trade name of the car, featureinformation503 about the features of the car, andspec information504 about the specifications of the car. Adisplay region505 is used to display the car CM program.

In FIG. 6, adisplay region600 is used to display CM2additional data601 which is a data material of the CM program of the personal computer. This data material contains detailed information relating to the personal computer being advertised, such astrade name information602 about the trade name of the personal computer, featureinformation603 about the features of the personal computer, andspec information604 about the specifications of the personal computer. Adisplay region605 is used to display the personal computer CM program.

In FIG. 7, adisplay region700 is used to display CM3additional data701 which is a data material of the CM program of the digital camera. This data material contains detailed information relating to the digital camera being advertised, such astrade name information702 about the trade name of the digital camera, featureinformation703 about the features of the digital camera, andspec information704 about the specifications of the digital camera. Adisplay region705 is used to display the digital camera CM program.

The organizationinformation managing unit105 is equipped with a storage medium, such as a memory or a HDD, for storing organization information about the programs to be broadcasted, and an I/O terminal for reading/writing organization information by an organizer.

FIGS. 8 and 9 each show an example of organization information managed by the organizationinformation managing unit105.

Organization information shown in FIG. 8 is a program scheduling management table800 for managing a transmission schedule of each main program. In this table800, aprogram name801 shows a name of a main program, aprogram start time802 shows a time to start the transmission of the main program, aprogram end time803 shows a time to end the transmission of the main program, anAV material804 shows names of AV materials used in the main program, and adata material805 shows names of data materials used in the main program.

The example shown in FIG. 8 indicates that the main program “drama A” is to be transmitted from 10:00:00 to 11:00:00, and five AV materials that are the drama A first material, the drama A second material, the CM1 material, the CM2 material, and the CM3 material, and six data materials that are the drama A additional data {circle around (1)}, the drama A additional data {circle around (2)}, the drama A additional data {circle around (3)}, the CM1 additional data, the CM2 additional data, and the CM3 additional data are to be used in the main program.

Organization information shown in FIG. 9 is a material scheduling management table900 for managing a presentation schedule of each material. In this table900, aprogram name901 shows a name of a main program. Amaterial switch time902 shows a time to start the presentation of each material used in the main program, with the start time of the main program being set as zero time. AnAV material903 shows a name of an AV material which should be presented from when the corresponding material switch time passes after the main program start time. Adata material904 shows a name of a data material which should be presented from when the corresponding material switch time passes after the main program start time.

The example shown in FIG. 9 indicates that the following pairs of AV and data materials should be presented from the following times: the drama A first material and the drama A additional data {circle around (1)} from the start time of the main program “drama A”; the CM1 material and the CM1 additional data from 14 minutes after the main program start time; the CM2 material and the CM2 additional data from 14 minutes and 15 seconds after the main program start time; the drama A second material and the drama A additional data {circle around (1)} from 14 minutes and 30 seconds after the main program start time; and the CM3 material and the CM3 additional data from 29 minutes and 45 seconds after the main program start time.

Thetransmission controlling unit106 contains a clock. With reference to the organization information managed in the organizationinformation managing unit105, thetransmission controlling unit106 controls the operation of the entire apparatus, by managing operation timings of and issuing instructions to theAV transmitting unit107, thecarousel generating unit108, thecarousel transmitting unit109, and the eventmessage transmitting unit110.

More specifically, with reference to the program scheduling management table800, thetransmission controlling unit106 outputs the names of all data materials which are used in the main program, to the carousel generating unit108 a predetermined time period (e.g. 1 minute) before the main program start time.

Thecarousel generating unit108 reads the data materials specified by the names given from thetransmission controlling unit106, from the main datamaterial holding unit103 and the CM datamaterial holding unit104. Thecarousel generating unit108 then generates carousel data from the read data materials. Carousel data referred to here is data of one cycle which is repeatedly transmitted using the carousel method.

FIG. 10 shows an example of carousel data generated by thecarousel generating unit108. Thecarousel data1000 is assembled in a predetermined order and includes the additional data corresponding to the main AV material and commercial AV material.

The drawing showscarousel data1000 which includes drama A additional data {circle around (1)}1001, drama A additional data {circle around (2)}1002, drama A additional data {circle around (3)}1003, CM1additional data1004, CM2additional data1005, and CM3additional data1006.

Also, with reference to the program scheduling management table800, thetransmission controlling unit106 instructs thecarousel transmitting unit109 to start the transmission of the carousel data at the main program start time, and to stop the transmission at the main program end time.

Thecarousel transmitting unit109 accordingly outputs the carousel data to themultiplexing unit111 repeatedly.

Also, thetransmission controlling unit106 refers to the material scheduling management table900. When any material switch time passes after the main program start time, thetransmission controlling unit106 outputs a name of a data material corresponding to the material switch time to the eventmessage transmitting unit110, and instructs the eventmessage transmitting unit110 to transmit an event message.

The eventmessage transmitting unit110 accordingly generates the event message which indicates to present the data material specified by the name given from thetransmission controlling unit106, and outputs the event message to themultiplexing unit111.

An event message is a small amount of message information that is used by thebroadcast apparatus100 to instruct application software operating in thereception apparatus112 to execute a particular event at once or at a specified time.

Here, the correspondence between message IDs and events is defined in the application software in thereception apparatus112 beforehand, so that thereception apparatus112 executes an event such as switching from one data material to another, based on a message ID included in a received event message.

A message ID is an identifier of an event message generated by the eventmessage transmitting unit110.

Also, defining an event can be done by writing the contents of event using a script language. The details on event messages and script language descriptions are shown in the ARIB STD-B24 specification “Data Broadcast Coding and Transmission in Digital Broadcasting”.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a correspondence table between data material names and message IDs.

In a data material —message ID correspondence table1100 in FIG. 11, adata material name1101 is used as an index when the eventmessage transmitting unit110 retrieves a message ID based on a data material name received from thetransmission controlling unit106, whereas amessage ID1102 shows the message ID corresponding to the data material name.

In FIG. 11, a data material name “drama A additional data {circle around (1)}” corresponds to a message ID “100”, a data material name “CM1 additional data” corresponds to a message ID “101”, a data material name “CM2 additional data” corresponds to a message ID “102”, and a data material name “CM3 additional data” corresponds to a message ID “103”.

Also, with reference to the program scheduling management table800 and the material scheduling management table900, thetransmission controlling unit106 outputs a name of an AV material which should be presented first in the main program to theAV transmitting unit107, and instructs theAV transmitting unit107 to start transmitting the AV material, at the main program start time. Whenever a material switch time passes after the main program start time, thetransmission controlling unit106 outputs a name of an AV material corresponding to the material switch time to theAV transmitting unit107, and instructs theAV transmitting unit107 to switch the transmission to the AV material. Finally, at the main program end time thetransmission controlling unit106 instructs theAV transmitting unit107 to stop the transmission.

TheAV transmitting unit107 accordingly reads an AV material specified by a name given from thetransmission controlling unit106, from the main AVmaterial holding unit101 or the CM AVmaterial holding unit102. TheAV transmitting unit107 outputs the read AV material to themultiplexing unit111.

Themultiplexing unit111 multiplexes the AV material given from theAV transmitting unit107, the carousel data given from thecarousel transmitting unit109, and the event message given from the eventmessage transmitting unit110, to generate a data stream. Themultiplexing unit111 then broadcasts the data stream to thereception apparatus112.

Themultiplexing unit111 can be implemented by a transport stream multiplexing device used in general digital satellite broadcasting, or software having the same functions as the multiplexing device.

Thereception apparatus112 receives the data stream broadcasted by thebroadcast apparatus100, and displays a program of the AV material multiplexed in the data stream on theTV113. Thereception apparatus112 also displays detailed information on the program based on the data materials in the carousel data multiplexed in the data stream, while switching the display in accordance with the event message multiplexed in the data stream.

(Operation)

The following is an explanation on a broadcast operation of thebroadcast apparatus100 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a transmission operation of thebroadcast apparatus100.

(1) Thetransmission controlling unit106 acquires a time T from the internal clock (S1).

(2) Thetransmission controlling unit106 judges whether the time T is P minutes before the main program start time shown in the program scheduling management table800 managed in the organization information managing unit105 (S2). Here, P minutes are a predetermined time period which is set at no shorter than the minimum time period required to generate carousel data.

(3) On judging that the time T is P minutes before the main program start time, thetransmission controlling unit106 reads all data material names used in the main program from the program scheduling management table800, and passes them to the carousel generating unit108 (S3).

(4) Thecarousel generating unit108 reads data materials specified by the data material names passed from thetransmission controlling unit106, from the main datamaterial holding unit103 and the CM datamaterial holding unit104. Thecarousel generating unit108 generates carousel data from these data materials (S4).

(5) Thetransmission controlling unit106 judges whether the time T is the main program start time shown in the program scheduling management table800 (S5).

(6) On judging that the time T is the main program start time, thetransmission controlling unit106 instructs thecarousel transmitting unit109 to start transmitting the carousel data generated by thecarousel generating unit108. Thetransmission controlling unit106 also passes a name of an AV material corresponding to the zero material switch time to theAV transmitting unit107, and instructs theAV transmitting unit107 to start transmitting the AV material (S6).

(7) Thecarousel transmitting unit109 starts repeatedly transmitting the carousel data, in accordance with the instruction by thetransmission controlling unit106. Also, theAV transmitting unit107 reads the AV material specified by the name passed from thetransmission controlling unit106, from the main AVmaterial holding unit101 or the CM AVmaterial holding unit102, and starts transmitting the AV material (S7).

(8) Thetransmission controlling unit106 judges whether the time T is when any material switch time except the zero material switch time passes from the main program start time (S8).

(9) On judging that the time T is a material switch time after the main program start time, thetransmission controlling unit106 passes a data material name corresponding to the material switch time to the eventmessage transmitting unit110, and instructs the eventmessage transmitting unit110 to transmit an event message which indicates to present a data material specified by the data material name. Thetransmission controlling unit106 also passes an AV material name corresponding to the material switch time to theAV transmitting unit107, and instructs theAV transmitting unit107 to switch the transmission to an AV material specified by the AV material name (S9).

(10) The eventmessage transmitting unit110 refers to the data material—message ID correspondence table1100, generates an event message including a message ID corresponding to the data material name passed from thetransmission controlling unit106, and transmits the event message. Also, theAV transmitting unit107 reads an AV material specified by the AV material name passed from thetransmission controlling unit106, from the main AVmaterial holding unit101 or the CM AVmaterial holding unit102, and starts transmitting the read AV material (S10).

(11) Thetransmission controlling unit106 judges whether the time T is the main program end time shown in the program scheduling management table800 (S11).

(12) On judging that the time T is the main program end time, thetransmission controlling unit106 instructs thecarousel transmitting unit109 to stop transmitting the carousel data, and theAV transmitting unit107 to stop transmitting the AV material (S12).

(13) Thecarousel transmitting unit109 accordingly stops transmitting the carousel data. Also, theAV transmitting unit107 accordingly stops transmitting the AV material (S13).

FIG. 13 shows an example of a data stream outputted from thebroadcast apparatus100.

Here, it is assumed that: the drama Afirst material201 and the drama Asecond material202 are held in the main AVmaterial holding unit101; theCM1 material301, theCM2 material302, and theCM3 material303 are held in the CM AVmaterial holding unit102; the drama A additional data {circle around (1)}401 is held in the main datamaterial holding unit103; the CM1additional data501, the CM2additional data601, and the CM3additional data701 are held in the CM datamaterial holding unit104; and the program scheduling management table800 and the material scheduling management table900 are held in the organizationinformation managing unit105.

In adata stream1300 shown in FIG. 13, the upper part shows aprogram data stream1301, the middle part shows acarousel data portion1302 of an additional data stream, and the lower part shows anevent message portion1303 of the additional data stream.

In the drawing, anarrow1310 represents a time axis, showing the passage of time from left to right. Values given above thearrow1310 represent time.

In theprogram data stream1301, the transmission of the drama Afirst material201 starts from 10:00:00, which is switched to theCM1 material301 at 10:14:00, to theCM2 material302 at 10:14:15, to the drama Asecond material202 at 10:14:30, and to theCM3 material303 at 10:29:45. The transmission ends at 10:30:00.

In thecarousel data portion1302, the transmission of thecarousel data1000 starts from 10:00:00, which is repeated until 10: 30:00.

Also, every time one AV material is switched to another in theprogram data stream1301, an event message indicating to switch from one data material to another is transmitted. In the example in FIG. 13, anevent message1304 is transmitted at 10:14:00, anevent message1305 at 10:14:15, anevent message1306 at 10:14:30, and anevent message1307 at 10:29:45.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a transition of displays on theTV113 when thereception apparatus112 receives thedata stream1300 shown in FIG.13.

An operation of thereception apparatus112 when thedata stream1300 is received is explained below, with reference to FIG.14.

(1) In adisplay1401, thereception apparatus112 starts receiving thedata stream1300 at the main program start time of 10:00:00, displays the drama Afirst material201 contained in theprogram data stream1301 in the top right display region on theTV113, and displays the drama A additional data {circle around (1)}401 contained in thecarousel data1000 in thecarousel data portion1302, in the bottom left L-shaped display region on theTV113.

Here, it is specified by thebroadcast apparatus100 in advance that thereception apparatus112 displays the drama A additional data {circle around (1)}401 first.

To specify which data material is to be displayed first in thereception apparatus112, a method may be used whereby an identifier of a data material displayed by default is fixed in thereception apparatus112, and this identifier is added to a data material which should be displayed first in thebroadcast apparatus100. Alternatively, thebroadcast apparatus100 may transmit an identifier of a data material which should be displayed first, to thereception apparatus112 as control information. These methods are described in detail in the ARIB STD-B24 specification “Data Broadcast Coding and Transmission in Digital Broadcasting”.

(2) Thereception apparatus112 receives the CM1additional data501 which should be presented next, and stores it in a memory, in preparation for the next switching of presentation.

Here, to determine which data material thereception apparatus112 should receive, a method whereby thebroadcast apparatus100 transmits the data materials with their priorities specified, or a method whereby thebroadcast apparatus100 writes the priorities in the data materials using a script language beforehand, may be used. These methods are described in detail in the ARIB STD-B24 specification “Data Broadcast Coding and Transmission in Digital Broadcasting”.

Alternatively, thereception apparatus112 may receive and store all data materials contained in thecarousel data1000, i.e. the drama A additional data {circle around (1)}401, the CM1additional data501, the CM2additional data601, and the CM3additional data701, beforehand.

(3) In adisplay1402, thereception apparatus112 displays theCM1 material301 contained in theprogram data stream1301 in the top right display region on theTV113 at 10:14:00, and at the same time receives theevent message1304 and displays the CM1additional data501 corresponding to the message ID “101” included in theevent message1304, in the bottom left L-shaped display region on theTV113.

Here, since thereception apparatus112 stores the CM1additional data501 beforehand, the CM1additional data501 can be displayed without delay.

(4) Thereception apparatus112 receives the CM2additional data601 which should be presented next, and stores it into the memory, in preparation for the next switching of presentation.

(5) In adisplay1403, thereception apparatus112 displays theCM2 material302 contained in theprogram data stream1301 in the top right display region on theTV113 at 10:14:15, and at the same time receives theevent message1305 and displays the CM2additional data601 corresponding to the message ID “102” included in theevent message1305, in the bottom left L-shaped display region on theTV113.

(6) Thereception apparatus112 receives the drama A additional data {circle around (1)}401 which should be presented next, and stores it into the memory, in preparation for the next switching of presentation.

(7) In adisplay1404, thereception apparatus112 displays the drama Asecond material202 contained in theprogram data stream1301 in the top right display region on theTV113 at 10:14:30, and at the same time receives theevent message1306 and displays the drama A additional data {circle around (1)}401 corresponding to the message ID “100” included in theevent message1306, in the bottom left L-shaped display region on theTV113.

(8) Thereception apparatus112 receives the CM3additional data701 which should be presented next, and stores it into the memory, in preparation for the next switching of presentation.

(9) In adisplay1405, thereception apparatus112 displays theCM3 material303 contained in theprogram data stream1301 in the top right display region on theTV113 at 10:29:45, and at the same time receives theevent message1307 and displays the CM3additional data701 corresponding to the message ID “103” included in theevent message1307, in the bottom left L-shaped display region on theTV113.

According to this embodiment, the broadcast apparatus generates carousel data including data materials which should be added respectively to AV materials to be presented in sequence in a main program, and repeatedly broadcasts the carousel data from the broadcast start time of the main program. The broadcast apparatus also broadcasts, every time one AV material is switched to another, an event message which indicates to present a data material corresponding to the latter AV material. The reception apparatus receives the data material corresponding to the latter AV material from the carousel data and stores it in a memory, before the AV materials are switched. Accordingly, on receiving the event message, the reception apparatus can present the stored data material together with the latter AV material to the viewer without delay.

Here, an event message which indicates to present a data material can be contained within one transport packet (188 bytes). Therefore, when a transmission band of 500 Kbps is used, time taken for the reception apparatus to acquire the event message is 0.003008 seconds or below. Hence there is almost no delay in presenting the data material.

Accordingly, it is possible to precisely synchronize the timing of switching AV materials and the timing of switching data materials.

Second Embodiment

(Overview)

The second embodiment of the present invention is the same as the first embodiment in that a broadcast apparatus repeatedly broadcasts main program additional data which should be presented to the viewer with a main program and CM program additional data which should be presented to the viewer with a CM program inserted in the main program, beginning at the broadcast start time of the main program. The broadcast apparatus also broadcasts an indication to switch from the main program additional data to the CM program additional data, at the broadcast start time of the CM program. However, the second embodiment differs with the first embodiment in that the broadcast apparatus further broadcasts an identifier of the CM program additional data using an event message a certain time period before the broadcast start time of the CM program, thereby instructing the reception apparatus to receive the CM program additional data specified by the identifier and store it in a memory before the broadcast of the CM program starts.

(Construction)

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a construction of a broadcast system to which the second embodiment of the invention relates.

This broadcast system is roughly made up of a broadcast apparatus120 and areception apparatus132.

The drawing also shows aTV133 for presenting programs and data to the viewer based on a data broadcast received by thereception apparatus132.

Note here that construction elements which are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 have been given the same reference numerals and their explanation has been omitted.

The broadcast apparatus120 includes the main AVmaterial holding unit101, the CM AVmaterial holding unit102, the main datamaterial holding unit103, the CM datamaterial holding unit104, the organizationinformation managing unit105, atransmission controlling unit126, theAV transmitting unit107, thecarousel generating unit108, thecarousel transmitting unit109, an eventmessage transmitting unit130, and amultiplexing unit131.

Thetransmission controlling unit126 operates in the same way as thetransmission controlling unit106 in the first embodiment. In addition, with reference to the material scheduling management table900, thetransmission controlling unit126 passes, a predetermined time period (e.g. 1 minute) before each material switch time except the zero material switch time, a name of a data material corresponding to the material switch time to the eventmessage transmitting unit130. Thetransmission controlling unit126 also instructs the eventmessage transmitting unit130 to transmit an event message that indicates to store the data material into the memory. Furthermore, after the material switch time, thetransmission controlling unit126 instructs the eventmessage transmitting unit130 to transmit an event message that indicates to set the data material whose presentation has ended deletable from the memory.

The eventmessage transmitting unit130 accordingly generates the event message which indicates to present the data material specified by the name passed from thetransmission controlling unit126, the event message which indicates to store into the memory the data material specified by the name passed from thetransmission controlling unit126, and the event message which indicates to set the data material whose presentation has ended deletable. The eventmessage transmitting unit130 passes these event messages to themultiplexing unit131.

Themultiplexing unit131 multiplexes the AV material given from theAV transmitting unit107, the carousel data given from thecarousel transmitting unit109, and the event messages given from the eventmessage transmitting unit130, to generate a data stream. Themultiplexing unit131 then broadcasts the data stream to thereception apparatus132.

Thereception apparatus132 receives the data stream broadcasted by the broadcast apparatus120, and displays a program of the AV material multiplexed in the data stream on theTV133. Thereception apparatus132 also displays detailed information on the program based on the data materials in the carousel data multiplexed in the data stream, while storing, switching, and deleting such information in accordance with the event messages multiplexed in the data stream.

(Operation)

The following is an explanation on a broadcast operation of the broadcast apparatus120 in the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a transmission operation of the broadcast apparatus120.

When compared with FIG. 12, steps S21 and S22 have been newly included and steps S9 and S10 have been replaced with steps S23 and S24, in FIG.16.

Steps which are the same as those in FIG. 12 have been given the same reference numerals and their explanation has been omitted.

(1)-(7) Same as (1)-(7) in the first embodiment (S1-S7), except that thetransmission controlling unit126 replaces thetransmission controlling unit106.

(8) Thetransmission controlling unit126 judges whether the time T is N minutes before a material switch time (S21). N minutes are a predetermined time period that is preferably no shorter than the minimum time period required for thereception apparatus132 to receive and store a data material.

(9) On judging that the time T is N minutes before the material switch time, thetransmission controlling unit126 passes a name of a data material corresponding to the material switch time to the eventmessage transmitting unit130, and instructs the eventmessage transmitting unit130 to transmit an event message which indicates to store the data material into the memory (S22).

(10) Same as (8) in the first embodiment (S8), except that thetransmission controlling unit126 replaces thetransmission controlling unit106.

(11) On judging that the time T is the material switch time, thetransmission controlling unit126 passes the name of the data material corresponding to the material switch time to the eventmessage transmitting unit130, and instructs the eventmessage transmitting unit130 to transmit an event message which indicates to present the data material and an event message which indicates to set a data material whose presentation has ended deletable. Thetransmission controlling unit126 also passes a name of an AV material corresponding to the material switch time to theAV transmitting unit107, and instructs theAV transmitting unit107 to switch the transmission to the AV material (S23).

(12) With reference to the data material—message ID correspondence table1100, the eventmessage transmitting unit130 generates the event message which includes a message ID corresponding to the data material name passed from thetransmission controlling unit126 and which indicates to present the data material specified by the name, and the event message which indicates to set the data material whose presentation has ended deletable. The eventmessage transmitting unit130 transmits these event messages.

Also, theAV transmitting unit107 reads the AV material specified by the AV material name passed from thetransmission controlling unit126, from the main AVmaterial holding unit101 or the CM AVmaterial holding unit102. TheAV transmitting unit107 starts transmitting the read AV material (S24). (13)-(15) Same as (11)-(13) in the first embodiment (S11-S13), except that thetransmission controlling unit126 replaces thetransmission controlling unit106.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a data stream outputted from the broadcast apparatus120.

Same as the example shown in FIG. 13 in the first embodiment, it is assumed that: the drama Afirst material201 and the drama Asecond material202 are held in the main AVmaterial holding unit101; theCM1 material301, theCM2 material302, and theCM3 material303 are held in the CM AVmaterial holding unit102; the drama A additional data {circle around (1)}401 is held in the main datamaterial holding unit103; the CM1additional data501, the CM2additional data601, and the CM3additional data701 are held in the CM datamaterial holding unit104; and the program scheduling management table800 and the material scheduling management table900 are held in the organizationinformation managing unit105.

In adata stream1700 in FIG. 17, the upper part shows theprogram data stream1301, the middle part shows thecarousel data portion1302 of the additional data stream, and the lower part shows anevent message portion1701 of the additional data stream.

Here, elements which are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 13 have been given the same reference numerals and their explanation has been omitted.

Thedata stream1700 in FIG. 17 differs with thedata stream1300 in FIG. 13 only in theevent message portion1701 which newly includesevent messages1702,1703, and1706 each for indicating to store a data material andevent messages1704,1705, and1707 each for indicating to set a data material deletable.

Theevent message1702 is transmitted N minutes before theevent message1304 which indicates the presentation of the CM1additional data501, to indicate to store the CM1additional data501.

Theevent message1703 is transmitted N minutes before theevent message1305 which indicates the presentation of the CM2additional data601, to indicate to store the CM2additional data601.

Theevent message1704 is transmitted after theevent message1305 which indicates the presentation of the CM2additional data601, to indicate to set deletable the CM1additional data501 whose presentation has ended.

Theevent message1705 is transmitted after theevent message1306 which indicates the presentation of the drama A additional data {circle around (1)}401, to indicate to set deletable the CM2additional data601 whose presentation has ended.

Theevent message1706 is transmitted N minutes before theevent message1307 which indicates the presentation of the CM3additional data701, to indicate to store the CM3additional data701.

Theevent message1707 is transmitted after the main program end time, to indicate to set deletable the CM3additional data701 whose presentation has ended.

A transition of displays on theTV133 when thereception apparatus132 receives thedata stream1700 shown in FIG. 17 is the same as the one shown in FIG.14.

An operation of thereception apparatus132 when thedata stream1700 is received is explained below, with reference to FIG.14.

(1) In thedisplay1401, thereception apparatus132 starts receiving thedata stream1700 at the main program start time of 10:00:00, displays the drama Afirst material201 contained in theprogram data stream1301 in the top right display region on theTV133, and displays the drama A additional data {circle around (1)}401 contained in thecarousel data1000 in thecarousel data portion1302, in the bottom left L-shaped display region on theTV113.

Here, it is specified by the broadcast apparatus120 in advance that thereception apparatus132 displays the drama A additional data {circle around (1)}401 first.

(2) Thereception apparatus132 receives the event message1702 N minutes before 10:14:00 (e.g. 10:13:00), and stores the CM1additional data501 corresponding to the message ID “101” included in theevent message1702, into the memory.

(3) Thereception apparatus132 receives the event message1703 N minutes before 10:14:15 (e.g. 10:13:15), and stores the CM2additional data601 corresponding to the message ID “102” included in theevent message1703, into the memory.

(4) In thedisplay1402, thereception apparatus132 displays theCM1 material301 contained in theprogram data stream1301 in the top right display region on theTV133 at 10:14:00, and at the same time receives theevent message1304 and displays the CM1additional data501 corresponding to the message ID “101” in theevent message1304, in the bottom left L-shaped display region on theTV133.

(5) In thedisplay1403, thereception apparatus132 displays theCM2 material302 contained in theprogram data stream1301 in the top right display region on theTV133 at 10:14:15, and at the same time receives theevent message1305 and displays the CM2additional data601 corresponding to the message ID “102” in theevent message1305, in the bottom left L-shaped display region on theTV133.

(6) After the presentation of the CM1additional data501 has ended, thereception apparatus132 receives theevent message1704 and sets the CM1additional data501 deletable from the memory.

(7) In thedisplay1404, thereception apparatus132 displays the drama Asecond material202 contained in theprogram data stream1301 in the top right display region on theTV133 at 10:14:30, and at the same time receives theevent message1306 and displays the drama A additional data {circle around (1)}401 corresponding to the message ID “100” in theevent message1306, in the bottom left L-shaped display region on theTV133.

(8) After the presentation of the CM2additional data601 has ended, thereception apparatus132 receives theevent message1705 and sets the CM2additional data601 deletable from the memory.

(9) Thereception apparatus132 receives the event message1706 N minutes before 10:29:45 (e.g. 10:28:45), and stores the CM3additional data701 corresponding to the message ID “103” included in theevent message1706, into the memory.

(10) In thedisplay1405, thereception apparatus132 displays theCM3 material303 contained in theprogram data stream1301 in the top right display region on theTV133 at 10:29:45, and at the same time receives theevent message1307 and displays the CM3additional data701 corresponding to the message ID “103” included in theevent message1307, in the bottom left L-shaped display region on theTV133.

(11) After the presentation of the CM3additional data701 has ended, thereception apparatus132 receives theevent message1707 and sets the CM3additional data701 deletable from the memory.

According to this embodiment, the broadcast apparatus broadcasts event messages for indicating storage and deletion of additional data, so that the reception apparatus can store necessary additional data only when it is required, in accordance with the event messages. This has the effect of economizing on memory usage in the reception apparatus.

Modification

(Overview)

A broadcast apparatus according to a modification to the invention operates in the same way as that in the first or second embodiment, by broadcasting modules instead of event messages.

(Construction)

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a construction of a broadcast system to which the modification of the invention relates.

This broadcast system is roughly made up of a broadcast apparatus140 and areception apparatus152.

The drawing also shows aTV153 for presenting programs and data to the viewer based on a data broadcast received by thereception apparatus152.

Note here that construction elements which are the same as those in the first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 15 have been given the same reference numerals and their explanation has been omitted.

The broadcast apparatus140 includes the main AVmaterial holding unit101, the CM AVmaterial holding unit102, the main datamaterial holding unit103, the CM datamaterial holding unit104, the organizationinformation managing unit105, atransmission controlling unit146, theAV transmitting unit107, thecarousel generating unit108, thecarousel transmitting unit109, a dummymodule transmitting unit150, and amultiplexing unit151.

Thetransmission controlling unit146 controls the dummymodule transmitting unit150, in the same way as thetransmission controlling unit106 controls the eventmessage transmitting unit110 in the first embodiment or thetransmission controlling unit126 controls the eventmessage transmitting unit130 in the second embodiment.

The dummymodule transmitting unit150 generates a module which indicates to present a data material specified by a name given from thetransmission controlling unit146, and passes it to themultiplexing unit151, in accordance with an instruction from thetransmission controlling unit146.

The dummymodule transmitting unit150 also generates a module which indicates to store a data material specified by a name given from thetransmission controlling unit146, and a module which indicates to set deletable a data material whose presentation has ended, and passes them to themultiplexing unit151.

Each module generated by the dummymodule transmitting unit150 here has a particular module ID.

Themultiplexing unit151 multiplexes the AV material given from theAV transmitting unit107 and the carousel data given from thecarousel transmitting unit109 to generate a data stream, and broadcasts the data stream to thereception apparatus152. Only when given a module from the dummymodule transmitting unit150, themultiplexing unit151 adds the module to the carousel data before multiplexing it with the AV material.

Thereception apparatus152 receives the data stream broadcasted by the broadcast apparatus140, and displays a program of the AV material multiplexed in the data stream on theTV153. Thereception apparatus152 also monitors whether any modules are added to the carousel data multiplexed in the data stream. When detecting that the modules are added to the carousel data, thereception apparatus152 displays on theTV153 detailed information on the program based on the data materials contained in the carousel data multiplexed in the data stream, while storing, switching, and deleting such information in accordance with module IDs of such modules.

(Operation)

An operation of the broadcast system in this modification is similar to those in the first and second embodiments, so that its explanation has been omitted.

According to the modification of the invention, the broadcast apparatus uses a module instead of an event message to indicate to the reception apparatus to execute an event such as storage, switching, or deletion of a data material.

Accordingly, when the number of event messages which can be used is limited, the event messages can be saved by not using them for indicating storage, switching, and deletion of data materials, with it being possible to utilize as many event messages as possible for other purposes.

The above embodiments and modification describe the case where an event message or module for indicating an operation is sent to the reception apparatus only once, but the same event message or module may be sent several times in case where the reception apparatus fails to receive it.

Also, programs that execute the above embodied and modified operations on a computer may be distributed for transactions, via computer-readable recording media or networks.

The computer-readable recording media mentioned here may be removable recording media such as floppy disks, CDs, MOs, DVDs, and memory cards, or fixed recording media such as hard disks and semiconductor memories.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.

Claims (12)

What is claimed is:

1. A data broadcast apparatus for repeatedly broadcasting broadcast data using a carousel method, to a reception apparatus which stores the broadcast data into a memory and reproduces the broadcast data stored in the memory, comprising:

acquiring means for acquiring a plurality of sets of broadcast data for each of which a reproduction start time is specified;

generating means for generating carousel data including the plurality of sets of broadcast data acquired by the acquiring means;

controlling means for controlling the operation of the data broadcast apparatus, the controlling means including a clock for managing operational timing and issuing instructions;

carousel data broadcasting means for repeatedly broadcasting the carousel data using the carousel method, according to the operation instruction from the controlling means; and

instruction broadcasting means for broadcasting, for each set of broadcast data, a reproduction instruction to start reproduction of the set of broadcast data, according to the operation instruction from the controlling means,

wherein the controlling means (i) instructs the carousel data broadcasting means to start broadcasting the carousel data at an earliest one of a plurality of reproduction start times of the plurality of sets of broadcast data, and (ii) instructs the instruction broadcasting means to broadcast the reproduction instruction at a reproduction start time of the set of broadcast data.

2. The data broadcast apparatus ofclaim 1,

wherein the instruction broadcasting means further broadcasts a storage instruction to store the set of broadcast data into the memory, according to the operation instruction from the controlling means, and

the controlling means further instructs the instruction broadcasting means to broadcast the storage instruction a first predetermined time before the reproduction start time.

3. The data broadcast apparatus ofclaim 2,

wherein the instruction broadcasting means further broadcasts a deletion instruction which indicates to the reception apparatus that the set of broadcast data can be deleted from the memory, according to the operation instruction from the controlling means, and

the controlling means further instructs the instruction broadcasting means to broadcast the deletion instruction a second predetermined time after the reproduction start time.

4. The data broadcast apparatus ofclaim 1,

wherein the instruction broadcasting means broadcasts the reproduction instruction as an event message or a module which has a particular identifier.

5. A data broadcast apparatus for (a) continuously broadcasting program data during a broadcast time slot to a reception apparatus, and (b) repeatedly broadcasting additional data associated with the program data during the broadcast time slot using a carousel method, to the reception apparatus which stores the additional data into a memory and reproduces the additional data stored in the memory, comprising:

acquiring means for acquiring a plurality of sets of program data for each of which a broadcast time slot is specified, and a plurality of sets of additional data which are respectively associated with the plurality of sets of program data;

generating means for generating carousel data including the plurality of sets of additional data acquired by the acquiring means;

controlling means for controlling the operation of the data broadcast apparatus, the controlling means including a clock for managing operational timing and issuing instructions;

data broadcasting means for

(a) continuously broadcasting, during a broadcast time slot of each set of program data, the set of program data, and

(b) repeatedly broadcasting the carousel data using the carousel method, according to the operation instruction from the controlling means; and

instruction broadcasting means for broadcasting, for each set of additional data, a reproduction instruction to start reproduction of the set of additional data, according to the operation instruction from the controlling means,

wherein the controlling means (i) instructs the data broadcasting means to start broadcasting the carousel data at the start of an earliest one of a plurality of broadcast time slots of the plurality of sets of program data, and (ii) instructs the instruction broadcasting means to broadcast the reproduction instruction at the start of a broadcast time slot of a set of program data associated with the set of additional data.

6. The data broadcast apparatus ofclaim 5,

wherein the instruction broadcasting means further broadcasts a storage instruction to store the set of additional data into the memory, according to the operation instruction from the controlling means, and

the controlling means further instructs the instruction broadcasting means to broadcast the storage instruction a first predetermined time before the start of the broadcast time slot.

7. The data broadcast apparatus ofclaim 6,

wherein the instruction broadcasting means further broadcasts a deletion instruction which indicates to the reception apparatus that the set of additional data can be deleted from the memory, and

the controlling means further instructs the instruction broadcasting means to broadcast the deletion instruction a second predetermined time after the start of the broadcast time slot.

8. The data broadcast apparatus ofclaim 5,

wherein the instruction broadcasting means broadcasts the reproduction instruction as an event message or a module which has a particular identifier.

9. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for use with a data broadcast apparatus including a clock, for repeatedly broadcasting broadcast data using a carousel method to a reception apparatus which stores the broadcast data into a memory and reproduces the broadcast data stored in the memory, the computer program comprising:

an acquiring step for acquiring a plurality of sets of broadcast data for each of which a reproduction start time is specified;

a generating step for generating carousel data including the plurality of sets of broadcast data acquired in the acquiring step;

a controlling step for controlling an overall operation of the data broadcast apparatus, by managing a time at which each step is to be executed and issuing an operation instruction for each step;

a carousel data broadcasting step for repeatedly broadcasting the carousel data using the carousel method, according to the operation instruction in the controlling step; and

an instruction broadcasting step for broadcasting, for each set of broadcast data, a reproduction instruction to start reproduction of the set of broadcast data, according to the operation instruction in the controlling step,

wherein the controlling step (i) instructs the carousel data broadcasting step to start broadcasting the carousel data at an earliest one of a plurality of reproduction start times of the plurality of sets of broadcast data, and (ii) instructs the instruction broadcasting step to broadcast the reproduction instruction at a reproduction start time of the set of broadcast data.

10. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for use with a data broadcast apparatus including a clock, for (a) continuously broadcasting program data during a broadcast time slot to a reception apparatus, and (b) repeatedly broadcasting additional data associated with the program data during the broadcast time slot using a carousel method, to the reception apparatus which stores the additional data into a memory and reproduces the additional data stored in the memory, the computer program comprising:

an acquiring step for acquiring a plurality of sets of program data for each of which a broadcast time slot is specified, and a plurality of sets of additional data which are respectively associated with the plurality of sets of program data;

a generating step for generating carousel data including the plurality of sets of additional data acquired in the acquiring step;

a controlling step for controlling an overall operation of the data broadcast apparatus, by managing a time at which each step is to be executed and issuing an operation instruction for each step;

a data broadcasting step for

(a) continuously broadcasting, during a broadcast time slot of each set of program data, the set of program data, and

(b) repeatedly broadcasting the carousel data using the carousel method, according to the operation instruction in the controlling step; and

an instruction broadcasting step for broadcasting, for each set of additional data, a reproduction instruction to start reproduction of the set of additional data, according to the operation instruction in the controlling step,

wherein the controlling step (i) instructs the data broadcasting step to start broadcasting the carousel data at the start of an earliest one of a plurality of broadcast time slots of the plurality of sets of program data, and (ii) instructs the instruction broadcasting step to broadcast the reproduction instruction at the start of a broadcast time slot of a set of program data associated with the set of additional data.

11. A data broadcast method for use with a data broadcast apparatus including a clock, for repeatedly broadcasting broadcast data using a carousel method to a reception apparatus which stores the broadcast data into a memory and reproduces the broadcast data stored in the memory, the data broadcast method comprising:

an acquiring step for acquiring a plurality of sets of broadcast data for each of which a reproduction start time is specified;

a generating step for generating carousel data including the plurality of sets of broadcast data acquired in the acquiring step;

a controlling step for controlling an overall operation of the data broadcast apparatus, by managing a time at which each step is to be executed and issuing an operation instruction for each step;

a carousel data broadcasting step for repeatedly broadcasting the carousel data using the carousel method, according to the operation instruction in the controlling step; and

an instruction broadcasting step for broadcasting, for each set of broadcast data, a reproduction instruction to start reproduction of the set of broadcast data, according to the operation instruction in the controlling step,

wherein the controlling step (i) instructs the carousel data broadcasting step to start broadcasting the carousel data at an earliest one of a plurality of reproduction start times of the plurality of sets of broadcast data, and (ii) instructs the instruction broadcasting step to broadcast the reproduction instruction at a reproduction start time of the set of broadcast data.

12. A data broadcast method for use with a data broadcast apparatus including a clock, for (a) continuously broadcasting program data during a broadcast time slot to a reception apparatus, and (b) repeatedly broadcasting additional data associated with the program data during the broadcast time slot using a carousel methods, to the reception apparatus which stores the additional data into a memory and reproduces the additional data stored in the memory, the data broadcast method comprising:

an acquiring step for acquiring a plurality of sets of program data for each of which a broadcast time slot is specified, and a plurality of sets of additional data which are respectively associated with the plurality of sets of program data;

a generating step for generating carousel data including the plurality of sets of additional data acquired in the acquiring step;

a controlling step for controlling an overall operation of the data broadcast apparatus, by managing a time at which each step is to be executed and issuing an operation instruction for each step;

a data broadcasting step for

(a) continuously broadcasting, during a broadcast time slot of each set of program data, the set of program data, and

(b) repeatedly broadcasting the carousel data using the carousel method, according to the operation instruction in the controlling step; and

an instruction broadcasting step for broadcasting, for each set of additional data, a reproduction instruction to start reproduction of the set of additional data, according to the operation instruction in the controlling step,

wherein the controlling step (i) instructs the data broadcasting step to start broadcasting the carousel data at the start of an earliest one of a plurality of broadcast time slots of the plurality of sets of program data, and (ii) instructs the instruction broadcasting step to broadcast the reproduction instruction at the start of a broadcast time slot of a set of program data associated with the set of additional data.

Images